Modular frame for paintings

ABSTRACT

Modular frame for painting for displaying original paintings or photographic replicas from digital or plastic arts! Such paintings are usually marketed at museum stores, galleries and in stores related with art and decoration. The modular frame is composed of identical pieces, which form the frame once they are coupled. The pieces are fit in together in order to provide the shape of the frame and the paints or replicas are fixed by means of connecting means. The modular frame comprises mainly two types of pieces: tongue and groove connecting elements ( 1   a,    1   b ) and extension elements ( 2 ). The objective is to provide a frame which is easy to assemble and which accepts a canvas made to fit therein in an equally simplified manner.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is applicable to the frame market for painting canvases, which are imprinted with copies of original paintings or photographs from digital or plastic arts and which is in wide development. These paintings are usually marketed at museum stores, galleries and in stores related with art and decoration.

The present invention develops a painting frame model that revolutionizes the buyer's relationship with this type of products. The present dismountable painting separates for the first time the dismountable frame from the canvas, which is supplied in a curled condition.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When a replica is purchased, there is constantly the problem of its framing and respective canvas transportation, due to its dimension. When purchasing mainly the canvas there will always be a problem with its transportation and framing.

FR2734463, U.S. Pat. No. 5,515,630 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,922,638 present modular frames with side elements and edge elements that provide a frame with the desired dimensions by means of fittings and screws. These frames present however the setback of forming a poorly adaptable assembly, being difficult to set up and proving a non-evident reuse.

The present invention intends to solve the above-mentioned problems by providing a reusable modular frame that presents in a single assembly the canvas and a set of components that compose the frame after having been assembled. This solution allows facilitating the transport and assembly of the group on the part of the buyer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention the structure of the painting is composed of several identical pieces that form the canvas frame when coupled together.

The pieces are fit in together to provide the frame with shape and the canvas is attached by means of connecting elements.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a frame which is easy to assemble, which accepts a canvas especially made to fit therein in an equally simplified manner.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the connecting elements (1 a, 1 b) in a preferred embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the assembly process of connecting elements (1 a, 1 b) and extension elements (2), in a preferred embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the several ways of assembling the connecting elements (1 a, 1 b) into the extension pieces (2).

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The modular frame according to the present invention comprises only two kinds of components: connecting elements (1 a, 1 b) and extension elements (2).

The connecting elements (1 a, 1 b) are intended to either form the corners of the frame or support the connection among the extension pieces (2), which constitute the side elements of the frame. These connecting pieces (1 a, 1 b) are linked by means of fitting in a groove connecting element (1 a) into a tongue connecting element (1 b).

The extension elements (2) are provided to constitute the side elements of the frame. An extension element has a connecting element (1 a, 1 b) in each end thereof.

The extension elements (2) present a length, or a multiple thereof, which is sufficient to provide the desired dimension corresponding to the canvas, together with the connecting pieces (1 a, 1 b).

Subsequently to the full assembly of the frame, a canvas especially tailored for the present invention might be attached by several means, preferably velcro, eyelets and joint pins or magnets. Besides being simple and fast to operate, the present assembly allows a simple change of the canvas into another frame.

The velcro fix would require fixing both faces of the velcro, one being placed at the canvas' end surface and the other on the extension elements (2).

The eyelet fix consists of small pins provided in the extension elements (2) and small openings with joint pins at the end surface of the canvas.

The magnet fix consists of magnets placed at the end surface of the canvas and a metal-based surface on the extension elements (2).

In order to ensure that the fixing elements remain unseen, it is advisable for the velcro, eyelet and magnet fixing means to be placed on the frame's inner face so that the painting may be completely leaned against the wall, when displayed.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In a preferred embodiment, the extension elements (2) might be provided with a square profile wherein the connecting elements (1 a, 1 b) have a part presenting a smaller square profile, so that a tight fit with the extension elements (2) occurs, and a part comprising a tongue and groove element.

As shown in FIG. 1, the connecting elements (1 a, 1 b) can be made of a groove connecting element (1 a) and a tongue connecting element (1 b) wherein the knob has a circular shape.

When fit into the extension elements (2), the connecting elements (1 a, 1 b) have a locking face at a ±45° inclination to the inner face of the extension piece (2). This makes it possible for the connecting elements (1 a, 1 b) to be used as corners or extensions of the frame's side element.

FIG. 2 shows a partial assembly of a frame, wherein one of the side elements is composed of two extension elements (2) linked by the respective connecting elements (1 a, 1 b).

FIG. 3 shows some methods for the fitting of the connecting elements (1 a, 1 b) into the extension pieces (2).

One must take into account that the embodiments of the present modular frame for paintings, which has been previously described, are possible implementation examples, merely set up for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Variations and modifications to the referred embodiments can be made without substantially straying away from the scope of the invention. All modifications and variations must be included within the scope of the present invention and protected by the following claims. 

1. Modular structural mountable and demountable picture for displaying reproductions of digital images printed on canvas, comprising two parts: modular structural frame (1,2,3) and attachable canvas; wherein the modular structural frame comprises two types of components: connecting elements with dual variable fitting (1 a, 1 b) and extension elements (2); wherein the extension elements (2) create different sizes for the structural frame according to the number of extension elements (2) used; wherein the extension elements (2) are provided with movable connecting means to fix the canvas (2). wherein the connecting elements (1 a, 1 b) with dual variable fitting will connect the extension elements (2) with a 180° or a 90° angle, to widen the structure or to make a corner according to the chosen fitting option wherein the connecting elements (1 a, 1 b) are linked by means of fitting in a groove connecting element (1 a) into a tongue connecting element (1 b); and the canvas is placed on the modular structural frame by movable connecting means.
 2. Modular structural according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting elements, which join the canvas to the extension elements (2), consist of fixing two velcro faces, one being placed at the canvas' and surface and the other being placed on the extension elements (2).
 3. Modular structural according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting elements, which join the canvas to the extension elements (2), consist of small pins placed in the extension elements (2) which fit in eyelets placed at the canvas' end.
 4. Modular structural according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting elements, which join the canvas to the extension elements (2), consist of magnets placed at the canvas' end surface and a metallic surface placed on the extension elements (2).
 5. Modular structural according to claim 2, characterized in that the connecting elements, which join the canvas to the extension elements (2), are placed in an inner surface of the frame.
 6. Modular structural according to claim 1, characterized in that the extension elements (2) have a square profile and in that the connecting elements (1 a, 1 b) are separated from the extension elements to provide two types of connections (extension or corner), and have a part presenting a smaller square profile so that a tight fit with the extension elements (2) occurs even being demountable, and a part comprising a tongue and groove element.
 7. Modular structural according to claim 6, characterized in that the part of the connecting elements (1 a, 1 b) that comprises the tongue and groove elements, when fit in the extension elements (2), has a fitting face at a ±45° angle to the inner face of the extension element (2) in order to allow using the said connecting elements (1 a, 1 b) as corners or extensions of the frame's side element according to the chosen fitting option to the extension element.
 8. Modular structural according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting elements (1 a, 1 b) consist of a groove element (1 a) and a tongue element (1 b) wherein the blob has a circular shape.
 9. Modular structural according to claim 3, characterized in that the connecting elements, which join the canvas to the extension elements (2), are placed in an inner surface of the frame.
 10. Modular structural according to claim 4, characterized in that the connecting elements, which join the canvas to the extension elements (2), are placed in an inner surface of the frame. 